Bag handle attaching machine



June 26, 1945. M. KATZ 2,379,087

BAG HANDLE ATTACHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 5, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Mom/s HA rz ,ATTORNEY I June 26, 1945. M, KATZ 2,379,087

BAG HANDLE ATTACHING MACHINE Filed NOV. 5, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR Mow/s /fA TZ Patented June 26,1945

umrso s'rAIrEs PATENT OFFICE BAG HANDLE ATTACHING moms I Morris Katz, Bronx, N. Y. Application November 3, 1941, Serial No. 417,625

7 @laims.

This invention relates to machines for forming and attaching handles to paper shopping bags, and the object of the invention is to provide a machine of this class having means for intermittently feeding an endless handle forming cord or strand into the machine, means for cutting predetermined lengths of the strand to form handle forming portions, a further object being to provide means engaging these handle forming portions to shape the same into U-shaped handles having projecting or supporting ends arranged beneath duel stapling means, further in providing means for actuating the stapling mechanism to simultaneously secure each end of the handle forming member to the upper edge portion of a paper bag or other support by a pair of closely arranged staples; a further object being to provide a machine of the character described, wherein the feeding, cutting, and shaping of the handle forming member is performed immediately after the treadle operation of the machine in applying the staples to a preformed handle, and with these and other objects in view, the invention consists in a machine of the class and for the purpose specified, which is simple in construction, emcient in use and which is constructed'as here-' inafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a machine made according to my invention with parts of the construction broken away.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the upper end portion I of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plane view of the table portion of the machine illustrating the handle gripping and forming mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the parts in a difierent position.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the open end of a shopping bag showing handles applied thereto by the machine with part of the construction broken away.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing another'adaptation of the invention.

In the application of handle members to shopping bags, it has been the conventional practice to cut twisted paper cords or other handle forming strands, some of which have included a reinforcing wire core, into lengths suitable to form handle members and thesecord or strand lengths have been applied to the bags by hand and then.

shopping bags at the lowest possible cost in that the bags, for the most part, have been given away to customers and at best, have sold at a very reasonable retail price. To over-come the present objectionable methods of procedure in constructing bags of the kind under consideration, I have devised a machine wherein handle forming strands are automatically cut to the desired length and then shaped to form curved handles supported in this shaped position beneath two pair of stapling plungers, and in simultaneously applying two staples on each end of the handle member and through the bag to secure the handle member in position on the edge of the bag in on ,operation. It will thus be apparent that the production of bags of this kind can be materially increased comparatively with the hand attachment of the handles and the individual stapling of each handle end. Furthermore, greater accuracies are provided in that positioning of the handle members on the bag is more definitely controlled, than in the hand method of attachment.

In the accompanying drawings, l0 represents a standard or base of the machine on which is supported a drive motor II. The top of the standard has a forwardly directed gooseneck extension below which is a forwardly and laterally directed supporting plate IS. Supported at one side of the standard It is a bracket I4 upon which is arranged spaced bearings l5 for supporting a drive shaft l6, driven from the motor it through a belt drive as indicated at l1. On the shaft I6 is arranged a drive pulley l8 and a drive sproket l9. Around the pulley l8 passes a belt or a pair of belts [8a which also pass around a pulley 20 on a supplemental drive shaft 2| mounted in the upper gooseneck end I2 of the frame. A chain 22 passes aroundthe sproket I9 and around another sproket 23 on a cam shaft 24 which is arranged in suitable bearings 25 on the plate l3.

On the shaft 2| is a one revolution clutch 26 moved into operative position upon the depression of a foot'treadle 21 coupled with the clutch through link and lever mechanism as indicated at '28. The operation of this clutch puts the machine into one complete cycle of operation to first actuate two duel stapling units 28 arranged side by side in spaced relationship to each other, each unit operating to feed a pair of wires 3|] to a position forming desired staple lengths, trimming off these lengths, shaping the same and then passing them through the workpiece, for

example a paper bag 3i, note Fig. 5 of the'draw ings, to form two staples J2 securing the ends At each side of the units II is arranged wire guide devices 40 through which the pair of wires are passed to direct the same into proper position with respect to the staplers 2 9. It is preferred that the wires are fed from'suitable spools, not shown, and crossed at the top of the machine in going to the respective guides 4| as indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

The stapling units 2! are disposed over a forwardly projecting workpiece supporting table 4!,

which is shaped to receive the central portion of' one side of the bag II, the folded edge of the bag being brought against stops 4! to limit inward movement of the bag; and other suitable means will be provided to centralize the bag on the table in order to properly position the handle on the bag. This may be done by simply providing marks on the surface of the bag to register with the ends 33 of the handle 84. The table 4| is positioned between side plates "protruding upwardly from the plate 13 and is arrangedupon and pivoted to the standard i4 as seen at 44. so as to provide slight vertical movement of the table in the operation of feeding the bag beneath the stapling units II. The pivot 44 is in the form of a shaft on which is disposed a gear 4' and the gear 4! is operated through the medium of a rack 44 in imparting the slight reciprocating movement to the table 4!, the rack being actuated by a cam 41 on the shaft II. The rack has a roller 48 operating in the groove of the cam 41, as will clearly appear upon a consideration of Fig. 1 of the drawings. The rack 48. is guided in its vertical movement by operating in an elongated slot 49 in the forward surface of a bearing 50 ex tending upwardly at the back of the standard III to form a support for the shaft II.

In order to understand the operation of the machine, it is well to mention at the present time,

that at the completion of one cycle of operation of the machine, the predetermined workpiece length ii is cut from an endless supply 52 of a twisted paper cord or the like used in forming the handles 84. This workpiece is fed into the position supported in the loop or U-shaped form with the ends it projecting forwardly and held in substantial parallel relationship to each other, as shown in Fig. 4. Notches ll formed in the stops 4! support the ends in this position, then upon the insertion of the edge of the bag into the machine over the table 4|, the depression of the treadle 27 first performs the stapling operation, and thereafter the other operations of the machine automatically take place. One of the first of these operations is to raise a semi-circular mold disc I4, which shapes the rounded contour of the resulting handle, in order to allow the workmen to withdraw the bag from the machine. The disc 84 has an upwardly extending center rod II; on which there is arranged a spring ll normally supporting the disc in depressed position. Engaging the upper head end of the rod II is a lever I! secured to one transverse shaft II, on which shaft is arranged 'a link II, which extends upwardly and carries a small roller ll operating upon the surface of a cam II. The cam 4| is secured to the shaft 31 and in proper timed relationship the cam will actuate the link II to in turn raise the lever 51 to move the disc 54 upwarly, and then to immediately release the disc allowing the same to be moved by the spring I! I into its normal position;

On another independent shaft llaarranged in axial alinement withthe shaft 58, is another link a similar to the link It and operating upon a cam lla also disposed on the shaft 31. Alsoon the shaft 58a is a downwardly extending lever II. to which is pivoted a long link 63, the otherend of the link "being pivoted to a lever 44 secured to a rod 85. Also secured to this rod is another lever it having a link 61 coupled with a control element 68 controlling the operation of a one revolution clutch '68, which controls the drive of the shaft 24 through the chain and. sproket construction described.

43 of the frame is a horizontal supporting plate 15 upon which is slidablymounted a workpiece pick-up and forming device I8 comprising a substantially horseshoe shaped unit formed from two similar curved arms 11 pivoted as seen at 18 with a spring 19 normally supporting the arms in the position shown in Fig. 3, while permitting spreading of the arms to a predetermined degree. The workpiece length SI of the cord or strand is fed in front, of the device 16 in the manner shown in Fig. 3 and then is severed from the endless strand 52 by a cutter 80. The cutter 80 is pivotally supported on an upstanding link 8| pivoted to one end of a long lever 82, the other end of the lever being actuated by a cam 83 operatively engaging 'a roller 84 at the end of said lever. Before the workpiece length BI is cut, however, by the tool 8|, it is first gripped between the curved surface of the disc 54 and a forwardly movable gripper 85. This gripper is actuated by a cam 86 on the shaft 24 engaging a-roller 81 on a lever 88 pivoted as seen at 89, the other end of the lever being coupled to a link Oil, which in turn is pivoted to a lever 91, at one end of a shaft or rod 92. This shaft extends into the central portion of the machine and has an upwardly extending lever 93, the free end of which has a pin operating in an elongated slot 94 of a long link 95 pivoted to the gripper plunger 85. The free end of the plunger has an upstanding flange 98 adapted .to engage the plunger'portion 91 of the device 16 so that immediately after the workpiece has been gripped, the device 16 is moved forwardly to feed the workpiece BI around the disc 04 and support the same in this position as seen on Fig. 4 of the drawings. In this forward movement of the plunger 01 a projecting catch 90 thereon passes beneath the pawl I2, automatically raising the pawl and then allow ing it to drop in back of the catch, to support the device 16 in the position shown in Fig. 4 until such time as the treadle is again depressed starting another cycle of operation of the machine. Immediately after the stapling has been performed the pawl it will be tripped and a spring 08 coupled with the plunger 9! will automatically return the same to retracted position allowing the new workpiece length M to be fed into position to repeat the next successive operation. It will be understood that the elongated slot 84 .of the pivoted link 95 provides for the normal return of the links and levers, while maintaining the device 16 in operative position and these are automatically returned by a spring I coupled with a lever IN on the shaft or rod 92. In other words, engagement with the cam 86 or substantially so, it being preferred to employ a projecting arm I02 on the rod 02 to engage a, stop pin I03 in limiting the return movement of the parts as will be apparent.

Immediately after theadevice 16 has returned to its normal position, the cord or strand 52 or a predetermined length thereof is fed into the machine by the transverse movement of a rack I08 which rotates a gear I on the shaft of a feed roller MS, a spring actuated roller I01 being disposed over the roller I06 to maintain positive feed of the strand 52. Before proceeding with the drive of the rack, it is well to mention that a constant feed of the strand 52 is provided in drawing the strand from a supply reel, not shown, and this is accomplished by a drive chain I08 passing around a sproket I00 on the shaft 2! and around a sproket IIO on a shaft to which a feed roller I I I is secured a spring pressed roller H2 is also used in conjunction with the rolls III to insure feed of the strand 52. This constant feed of the strand forms the loop therein illustrated in Fig. 1 suflicient to provide at all times free, quick feeding of the desired length of the strand into the machine in the intermittent actuation of the handle feed roller I06.

The rack I04 is actuated through a lever II3 pivoted as seen at lIfl and having a roller H5 operating upon a cam H6 on the shaft 24. The rack is supported and guided in its movement by the end plates 43 and has its end pivoted to the lever H3 as will be apparent. A spring III is coupled with the lever I I3 and with a supporting rod H8 and serves to maintain the roller H5 in constant engagement with the surface of the cam H8.

The operation of the machine will be readily understood from the foregoing when taken in connection with the following brief description.

In the first place it will be assumed that the machine has been previously operated and at the completion of this operation the workpiece strand 5! is left supported in the position shown in Fig. 4, with its ends projecting forwardly and arranged in parallel relation to each other and the table H is in a slightly depressed or lowered position, allowing free entrance of the edge of a paper bag into position beneath the stapling devices 29 and also beneath the said ends of the strand workpiece 5|. The treadle 21 is then depressed putting the machine in operation. The stapling devices 29 will first be actuated to simultachment of the handle members.

taneously secure two staples around each end 33 of the resulting handle 34, note Fig. 5, after which the bag is immediately withdrawn from the machine, the disc 54 having been instantaneously raised to permit this withdrawal, it also being understood that the table II has been previously raised into normal position during the stapling operation. Immediately upon the withdrawal of the bag and handle member thereon, the formingiand holdingelement I8 is released, as is also the gripper 05. They are automatically moved into normal position, thereupon anew workpiece 5I- is fed into position between the gripper 85 and the disc 54, which has now been lowered to its normal position. The gripper 85 is then moved into position to engage the workpiece. The cutter is then operated to sever the workpiece length 5| from the stock 52, thereupon the element or device 16 is moved forwardly to pass the workpiece II around the curved sur-- face of the disc 54 and to support the same-on this surface with the free ends of the workpiece protruding in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4 and then the machineremains momentarily at res During the cycle of operation of the machine, the bag is inverted and the other opposed edge is brought into position upon the table H, the treaclle 21 again depressed and the cycle operation repeated to attach the other handle memher, and these operations may be repeated in forming both handle members on a successive series of bags. If desired, the operation of attaching both handles may be performed by first attaching one handle to one side only in a series of bags and then to attach the other handle of the other side of the bags in another series of operations.

It is also possible to attach the handles by disposing the ends 33 upon inner surfaces rather than outer surfaces of the bags as indicated in Fig. 6 of the drawings in which view the handle members are designated by the reference 34a. and the attached ends by the reference 33a. In both instances, staples pass through not only the bag including the flange, but also through the reinforcing strip employed, and these are especially desirable in the stronger construction of the bag. Where this strength is not required, however, the reinforcement may be modified or even dispensed with. As a matter of fact, it is really immaterial what particular type and kind of product or workpiece is employed for the at- It will be understood these handle members may have their ends simultaneously attached to any type and kind of workpiece. For example, the handle members may simply be attached to strips or bands similar to the reinforcing strips 36 in forming handle structures which could be coupled with any type or kind of container to form a carrying means for such container.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a machine for forming and attaching handles to predetermined supports, a strand feeding, gripping, shearing and holding mechanism, comprising a feed roller for intermittently feeding a predetermined length of a strand into the machine, a curved surface disc disposed at one side of the strand fed into the machine, a gripper at the other side of the strand, means moving the gripper in the direction of said disc to. support the central portion of said strand centrally of the curved surface of said disc,

handling forminglength thereof having end portions, spaced equally from said gripper, means comprising yielding curved fingers for feeding said end portions of the strand onto the curved surface of said disc, a common pivotal mounting for said fingers, means engaging the last named means to retain the strand upon said surface of the disc with the free ends of the strand protruding from the disc, and means whereby a handle supporting member may be positioned in allnement with said protruding ends preparatory to securing the ends to said member.

2. In a machine of the class described, a one revolution clutch, means automatically actuating the clutch to rotate a cam shaft, one revolution in each cycle of operation of the machine,

a cord feed unit, means actuated by one cam on said shaft for operating said feed unit to feed a predetermined length of the cord into the machine, a cutter shearing the cord to form said length, another cam on said shaft for actuating the cutter, a combination gripper and cord shaping and holding device. means comprising another cam on said shaft for actuating said device, a spring actuated catch cooperating with said device to support the same in cord holding position, and means for automatically releasing said catch.

3. In a machine of the class described, a one revolution clutch, means automatically actuating the clutch to rotate a cam shaft, one revolution in each cycle of operation of the machine. a cord feed unit, means actuated by one cam on said shaft for operating said feed unit to feed a. predetermined length of the cord into the machine, a cutter shearing the cord to form said length, another cam on said shaft for actuating the cutter, a combination gripper and cord shaping and holding device, means comprising another cam on said shaft for actuating said device, a member upon which the cord is supported by said device, means for automatically moving said member out of engagement with said cord, a workpiece supporting table, and means for moving said table toward and from said member.

4. In a cord handle forming machine, a curved segment forming a mount around which a cord is adapted to be passed in shaping the cord to handle form, means feeding a straight length of cord into alinement with said segment, means cutting the cord to form a handle length, means gripping the handle length of the cord centrally upon said segment, yieldable means movable upon the segment to shape the ends of the cord length around the segment and to support the cord thereon with ends of the cord protruding beyond said segment and said last named means comprising a pair of members having common pivotal means.

' handle form, means feeding "straight length of cord into alinement with said segment, means cutting the cord to form a handle length, means gripping the handle length of the cord centrally upon said segment, yieldable means movable upon tion, means releasing the last named means, and

o stapling devices for applying two pair of staples means simultaneously moving the segment out of engagement with said cord.

6. In a machine employing a pair of duel stapling devices for applying two pair of staples upon spaced sections of a workpiece, means for forming a U-shaped strand-like handle having free spaced end portions adapted to be arranged upon the spaced sections of the workpiece in stapling said ends to the workpiece by the pairs of staples, said means comprising strand, feeding, cutting, gripping, shaping and supporting mechanisms all actuated automatically upon the completion of the application of the staples to a preformed handle in a single cycle of operation of the machine, the shaping and supporting mechanisms comprising a curved segment upon which the strand is shaped, a U-shaped member moving the strand upon and supporting the same on said segment, said member comprising independent yieldably supported curved arms, a common pivot for said arms, and means automatically moving said segment and-member out of engagement with said U-shaped strand immediately after the stapling operation.

7. In a machine employing a pair of duel upon spaced sections of a workpiece, means for forming a U-shaped strand-like handle having free spaced end portions adapted to be arranged upon the spaced sections of the workpiece in 5 stapling said ends to the workpiece by the pairs of staples, said means comprising strand, feeding, cutting, gripping, shaping and supporting mechanisms all actuated automatically upon the completion of the application of the staples to a preformed handle in a single cycle of operation of the machine, the shaping and supporting mechanism comprising a curved segment upon which the strand is shaped a U-shaped member moving the strand upon and supporting the same on said segment, said member comprising independent yieldably supported curved arms, means automatically moving said segment and member out of engagement with said U-shaped strand immediately after the stapling operation, a table supporting the workpiece, and means for automatically moving said table toward and from said segment.

MORRIS KA'IZ. 

